Ice tray



y 7, 1940- c. R. CARNEY 2,199,740

ICE TRAY Filed Sept. 2, 1939 INVENTOR (z lyforl E 6' rlrqy. BY WA (k A TT ORNE Y Patented May 7, 1940 A UNITED STATES v 1 PATENT OFFICE ICE my01mm 1:. cal-nay, Detroit, Mich. Application September 2, m9, Serial No.293,201 6 Claims. (01. ez-ioas) This invention relates to ice trays, andmore particularly to an ice tray having a removable grid which isprovided with a plurality of independently movable sections which may beoperated-to permit the independent removal of any desired number of icecubes from the grid and ice tray.

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been experienced in effecting theremoval of an ice block 10 partitioning structure or grid from the trayor pan, and also in effecting the removal of the individual ice blocksor cubes from the grid. I have found that these diflilculties can beovercome by providing a partitioning structure or grid having aplurality of generally transversely extending angularly disposed membersmovably mounted on a generally longitudinally extending grid member. Thelongitudinally extending member is preferably provided with vertically bspaced stop members to position the generally transversely extendinggrid members at an angle to the vertical prior to the freezing of theice cubes therein whereby aforce may be applied to the transversemembers to move them towards the upright or vertical position therebyproducing a wedging or sliding force on the ice blocks or cubes to breakthe contact between the ice cubes and the grids and tray structure.

An object of this invention is therefore to provide an ice tray gridstructure having a plurality of generally transversely extendingangularly movable grid members mounted on a generally longitudinallyextending grid member.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice tray gridstructure having a generally longitudinally extending member providedwith vertically spaced stop members adapted to support a plurality ofgenerally transversely extending grid members at an angle tothevertical.

A still further object is to provide a gravity actuated ice tray gridstructure wherein a plurality of generally transversely extendingmembers are movable to one angularly related position by the force ofgravity, and may be manually moved to another angularly related positionto release the ice cubes from the grid and tray structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ice tray grid memberhaving a generally longitudinally extending member provided withvertically spaced stop members adapted to support a plurality ofgenerally transversely extending grid members at an angle to thevertical under the influence of the force of gravity acting on thetransverse members when the grid structure is placed in a generallyhorizontal position.

A further object is to provide an ice tray grid which is so constructedas to permit the mechanical removal of the ice cubes from the grid 5 bya separate application of power to each transverse section of the grid.

Another object is to provide an ice tray gridwhich is so constructed asto permit selective manipulation of the transverse grid members to 10secure the progressive release of either all or a portion of the icecubes contained therein without first partially melting said cubes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice tray grid fromwhich the separate ice 15 cubes may be removed selectively either asseparate cubes or in multiples of any desired number.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an ice tray g'ridfrom which the ice cubes may be released by a relative movement of the20 separate elements of the grid, and in which a portion of the grid isused as a fulcrum for the application of power by the wrench or lever torelease the cubes from'the grid and the tray.

Yet another object is to provide a grid structure having alongitudinally extending member and a plurality of transverselyextending members carried thereby wherein means are provided betweenportions of the longitudinally and transversely extending members topermit the 30 application of power to the transversely extending membersto varytheir angular relation relative to the longitudinally extendingmember and by such variation in angular relation to release the icecubes from the grid and tray. 35

- gular relation of said transverse members relative to alongitudinalmember forming a part 4 of the grid structure to effect therelease of ice cubes from the grid structure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description considered in connection with the ac- 45companying drawing, submitted for purposes of illustration only, and notintended to define the scope of the invention, reference being had forthat purpose to the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similarparts throughout the several views: I

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an ice tray and grid embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substan--- direction of thearrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on 'theline 3--3 ofFig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the various parts of the grid shownin separated relation-- ship.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one suitable type of wrench or manuallyoperablemeans adapted for use with the tray and grid structureillustrated.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited'in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeingpractlced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intendedto limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of theprior art.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, I30 representsan ice tray of any desired size and shape and I3I represents the gridmember, which is constructed to provide a plurality of compartments inwhich a liquid body is confined within the tray I30 for freezing intocubes or any other desired shape. The grid I3I comprises a longitudinalpartition or separator member I32 and a plurality of transversepartitions or separator members I33. Each'transverse partition I33 ispreferably provided with a centrally disposed vertical slot I34 whichextends from approximately the central portionbf the partition downalmost but not quite to its lower It will be observed that the upperedge of the longitudinally extending grid member I32 is formed withcompound slots I defined by forward edge portions I12 of the member I32which act as stop members to engage the portions of the transversemembers I33 above the vertical slots I34 to limit forward movement ofthe upper edges of the transverse grid members I33. Intermediate edgeportions I14 of the longitudinal member I32 act as stop members toengage the portions of the transverse members I33 above the verticalslots I34 to limit rearward or downward movement of the upper edges ofthe transverse grid members I33.

The lower portion of the longitudinal grid member I32 is preferablyformed with V-shaped apertures or notches I16, as illustrated in Fig. 4,to receive flange portions I 13 formed in the transverse grid membersI33 below the vertical slots' I34 to hold the transverse members inassembled relation relative to the longitudinal grid member Theapertures ornotches I16 are spaced longitudinally with reference to theedges I12 and I14 and the movement of the transverse grid members I33 isconfined in such a manner that when the gridis positioned in asubstantially horizontal:

2,199,740 tially on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1 looking in the necessary thatthe transverse members move through an extended angle, since movement ofa few degrees only is sufflcient to break the contact between the icecubes and the grid and tray members. The edge portions I12 may thereforehe moved closer to the edge portions I14'if desired. The surface I16between the edge portions I12 and I14 may be arcuate in shape tocorrespond generally to the angular movement of the transverse gridmembers. or may be flat as desired.

toward a vertical position to break the contact between the ice cubesand the grid and tray members. One desirable form of such an implementis illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein a lever I36 is provided with a curvedend portion I33 adapted to engage the transverse grid members I33 andthe edge portion I30 of the longitudinal grid member to move thetransverse members I33 to an angularly inclined position to break thecontact between the ice cubes and the tray and grid. It will beunderstood that any suitable instrument may be employed to actuate thetransverse members I33, and the invention is not limited to the use ofthe implement shown in Fig. 5.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, a portion of the forward edge of thepan I30 may if desired be indented as shown at I33 to receive animplement such for example as that shown in Fig.5, or other suitableimplement, to exert-a lifting force on the pan to break the frozencontact between the bottom of the pan I 30 and the shelf or supportingsurface on which it rests in the refrigerator compartment. It will beunderstood that using the grid pre viously disclosed it is possible toremove any ly facilitated by the progressive movement of the transversepartitions of the grid; since the power applied need merely be directedto a single pair of cubes at a time with the result that less resistanceis offered to the removal of the cubes. The grid and lever describedherein are also of such construction that the forces applied forreleasing the cubes are directed against the various partitions of thegrid and are not applied di rectly to the walls of the tray.

To further facilitate the loosening of the grid and the removal of theice cubes, particularly the first pair removed, the tray I30 may beprovided with a' sloping forward wall I3I, although it should beunderstood that the effective operation of the grid is not dependent ona trayof this nature and trays of ordinary shape or construction mayreadily be used.

Using the form of the grid construction shown, it will be apparent thatthe operation of the grid for removing frozen cubes or other shapedfrozen objects therefrom requires the freeing of only the desired numberof such cubes or objects from the grid and the tray. During thisoperation, the grid and its contents is securely frozen to the trayexcept for those particular portions where the transverse members havebeen moved for the express purpose of freeing the adjacent cubes orobjects therefrom. This makes it possible for. the housewife or otheruser to operate the grid readily with one hand while holding the trayand the grid with the remaining frozen cubes or other objects with theother hand. This is a desirable feature of the present grid .con-

- time from the tray and thereafter requiring a separate manipulationeffort of the user to free the grid from the freed frozen block.

It is also to be understood that while the embodiments of the inventionhere disclosed by way of example employ but a single longitudinallyextending member, it is within the scope of the present invention to useany desired number of such members to divide the ice tray or othercontainer into any desired number and shapes of separate compartments.

I claim:

1. An ice tray grid comprising a vertically disposed' longitudinallyextending member having a plurality of spaced relatively long notchesdefined by spaced edge portions formed in its upper edge and a pluralityof spaced relatively short notches formed adjacent its lower edge, aplurality of separately movable transversely extending members mountedon the longitudinally extending member and movable angularly in saidnotches from inclined positions of approximately seventydegrees to thehorizontal towards increased angularly inclined positions relative tothe horizontal, and a plurality of spaced abutments formed in thelongitudinal member each adjacent one of the first mentioned spaced edgeportions to provide a space between each abutment and the associatedtransverse member, whereby a detached prying tool may be selectivelyreceived between said abutments and transverse members to move thetransverse members angularly from said inclined position ofapproximately seventy degrees to release ice.

2. In a grid for an ice tray, a unitary longitudinally extending memberhaving a plurality of longitudinally spaced upper and lower aperturedportions defining stop members, a plurality of substantially rigidindependently operable transversely extending members mounted in saidupper and lower apertured portions to move each from an ice formingangularly inclined position of approximately seventy degrees to thehorizontal towards an angular position of less than eighty-five degreesto the horizontal whereby ice will be released from the tray and gridand the transverse members may assume said angularly inclined iceforming positions under the influence of the force of gravity when thegrid is positioned in a substantially horizontal position, and anabutment formed in the longitudinally extending member adjacent each ofthe transverse members when in the ice forming position to provide aspace between the abutment and the transverse member above the normalice freezing level whereby detached manually operable means mayselectively engage said abutments and transverse members to move thetransverse members from said angularly inclined ice forming position torelease ice.

3. A grid for an ice tray comprising a generally vertically disposedlongitudinally extending separator member having a plurality of compoundslots, each of said slots including three spaced edge portions formedadjacent its upper edge, and a plurality of apertures defined by pairedrelatively closely spaced edge portions formed adjacent the lower edgeof said member, a plurality of generally transversely extendingseparator members hingedly mounted in said slots and apertures formed inthe longitudinally extending member, each of the lower apertures beinglongitudinally spaced relative. to one of said compound slots andcooperating therewith to confine one of the transverse members tolimited angular movement from a position oflrest at a substantiallypredetermined angle with respect to the bottom of the grid, one edgeportion of each ofthe compound slots forming an abutment spaced fromthe. associated transverse member when in the position of rest toprovide a space therebetween for the reception of a detached leverwhereby force may be exerted against the transverse members toselectively move said members angularly to release ice.

4. An ice tray grid comprising a partition element extendinglongitudinally of the grid from one end to the other and having one setof slots extending inwardly from its upper edge and a second set ofslots formed adjacent its lower edge, a plurality of transversepartition members extending from one side of the grid to the other, eachof said transverse partition members having a portion projecting intooneof the upper slots and another portion projecting into a lower slot, theslots of one set being staggered with respect to the slots of the otherset and the walls of the sets of slots cooperating to normally hold thetransverse partition members substantially in parallelism and each in aposition of rest at a substantially predetermined angle with respect tothe bottom of the grid, each slot of the upper set being shaped toprovide a pair of confronting wall portions spaced to permit theassociated transverse partition member to swing through a substantiallypredetermined arc, and a third wall portion cooperating with saidtransverse partition member to provide a slot for receiving the end of alever .and to form a fulcrum around which said lever may pivot to movesaid transverse partition member from its original position of rest.

5. An ice tray grid comprising a partition element extendinglongitudinally of the grid from one end to the other and having one setof slots extending inwardly from the upper edge of the partition elementand a second set of slots extending inwardly from the lower edge, aplurality of transverse partition members extending from one side of thegrid to the other and each having a portion extending through one of theupper slots and a second portion extending through a lower slot, theslots of one set being staggered with respect to the slots of the otherset and the walls of the sets of slots cooperating to normally hold thetransverse partition members in parallelism and in a position of rest ata substantially predetermined angle with respect to the bottom of thegrid, each slot of the upper set being shaped to provide a pair ofconfronting wall portions spaced to permit the associated transversepartition member to swing through a predetermined arc, and a third wallportion cooperating with said partition member to provide a slot forreceiving the end of a lever and to form a fulcrum around which suchlever may pivot to move said partition member from its original positionof rest.

6. A grid for an ice tray comprising a longitudinally extendingseparator member adapted to be positioned in a substantially verticalposition and having a plurality of spaced cut-out portions adjacent itsupper and lower edges, a plurality of independently movable transversemembers mounted on the separator member and having portions projectinginto the upper and lower confronting wall portions, the upper cutoutportions being so related to the lower cut-out portions that thetransverse members may each be moved angularly from a substantiallypredetermined angular position relative to the bottom of 10 the gridrelative to the separator member, abutments formed in the separatormember below the upper edge thereof and disposed one adjacent eachtransverse member to provide a space .between the abutment and thetransverse member 'above'the normal ice freezing level, whereby a.detached manually operabletool may be selectively'inserted between anabutment and a portion of a transverse member to exert a force on eachtransverse member to move it angularly relative to the separator memberto release ice. 10

CLIFFORD R. CARNEY.

